New York Knicks: Top 10 candidates to replace Jeff Hornacek as head coach

The New York Knicks have parted ways with head coach Jeff Hornacek. Who are the top five candidates to become the Knicks’ next sideline general?

The New York Knicks are headed for another offseason that will begin with doubt and uncertainty. New York will hire a new head coach for the third time since 2014, when the organization parted ways with the last head coach who took the organization to the playoffs: Mike Woodson.

With Jeff Hornacek becoming the latest coaching casualty, the Knicks will now embark on an extensive search for the right fit at head coach.

New York has missed the playoffs in every season since 2012-13, and there’s a growing belief that the streak will continue in 2018-19. Kristaps Porzingis is expected to be out until December the earliest as he recovers from the torn left ACL he suffered in early February.

Nevertheless, the Knicks need a coach who can help facilitate the long-term rebuild into a championship contender—and that starts with making the most of the 2018-19 season.

Thankfully for the Knicks, there are a vast number of viable options to fill that very role. There are defensive specialists who can return the team to its 90s form, offensive masterminds who can modernize the organization, and tremendous motivational figures.

The question is: Who are the best possible candidates for the New York Knicks to replace Jeff Hornacek and prosper as head coach?

David Blatt

If all you know about David Blatt is that LeBron James didn’t like him very much, you should do a bit more homework. Blatt is one of the greatest coaches in European basketball history, as well as one of the most respected minds in the entire sport.

Thus, while Blatt’s tenure with the Cleveland Cavaliers may have ended in a less than ideal manner, he’s one of the best possible options for the New York Knicks.

Over the course of his 123 regular season games as head coach of the Cavaliers, Blatt accumulated a record of 83-40. He also helped Cleveland reach the 2015 NBA Finals and had the team at No. 1 in the Eastern Conference standings when he was fired.

He also led Maccabi Tel Aviv to the 2014 EuroLeague Championship, Russia to a EuroBasket gold medal, and has won seven league titles between Israel, Italy, and the Adriatic League.

The key to Blatt’s success has been his ability to orchestrate a modernized version of the Princeton Offense. He’s also regarded as a high-quality defensive coach who can convince his players to buy in on a nightly basis.

A friend of current Knicks president Steve Mills, Blatt has an in with the organization and the experience to coach a roster with two European franchise cornerstones.

David Fizdale

If the New York Knicks are looking for a coach who has a good relationship with the stars of the NBA, then David Fizdale might be the best option. Marc Gasol may beg to differ, but the Spanish star is closer to the exception than the rule.

Acquiring LeBron James may be a pipe dream for the Knicks, but adding a coach with Fizdale’s reputation amongst the players could be beneficial in free agency.

On the court, Fizdale is known to be hard on his players on the defensive end of the floor. He demands a high level of intensity, has a championship-caliber track record, and supports that approach with a proven system.

Offensively, Fizdale encourages ball movement and understands the value of being able to operate through a big in the high post.

Fizdale cut his teeth with the Miami Heat teams that won back-to-back championships and made four consecutive NBA Finals appearances. In addition to being featured on Erik Spoelstra’s staff, he’s been coaching in the NBA since 2003.

With a vast amount of experience, defensive prowess, a solid offensive system, and quality connections to star players, Fizdale could be an intriguing hire.

Mark Jackson

The popular choice amongst New York Knicks fans appears to be Mark Jackson. Jackson has experience as a head coach, vast familiarity with the pressure of playing and winning in New York, and a history of developing strong relationships with his players.

If the Knicks are looking to establish a defensive-minded culture, then Jackson would be the perfect candidate to hire as head coach.

Jackson was born in Brooklyn, went to Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School, and starred for the St. John’s Red Storm. If that familiarity isn’t enough for you, Jackson won Rookie of the Year and made the All-Star Game as a member of the Knicks.

Jackson played for the Knicks from 1987 to 1992 and during the 2001-02 season, which heightens the level of knowledge and first-hand experience.

As a head coach, Jackson led the Warriors to a record of 98-66 over the course of his final two seasons at the helm. He helped Golden State snap a five-year postseason drought and played a critical role in the development of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.

For a Knicks team that desperately needs to reestablish a defensive-minded culture, Jackson could be the perfect coach to return the organization to relevance.

Ettore Messina

Ettore Messina will be the first to contest the belief that David Blatt is the best current or former European basketball coach for an NBA job. A legend of the sport overseas, Messina has made a wise and successful transition to the San Antonio Spurs’ coaching staff.

If the New York Knicks are looking for a coach who can instantly change the culture, then Messina is as safe a bet as anyone in the field.

Messina is a four-time EuroLeague champion, which is testament enough to his brilliance as a head coach. He won four Italian League championships, five Russian League titles, and a pair of VTB United League crowns to round out his all-time résumé.

Messina now has five years of NBA experience to temper the concerns about his transition, including one as a consultant for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Having worked alongside legendary head coach Gregg Popovich for four seasons, Messina has positioned himself for a job as an NBA head coach. He not only has a wealth of knowledge about how to run an effective system, but has gained perspective from one of the Association’s all-time greats.

If hired by the Knicks, Messina should know exactly how to utilize European prospects turned franchise cornerstones Frank Ntilikina and Kristaps Porzingis.

Doc Rivers

Prior to the 2017-18 NBA regular season, I would have vehemently opposed the idea of hiring Doc Rivers as head coach. His success in the NBA has depended heavily on the presence of superstar talent, which he’d be without for at least half of the 2018-19 campaign.

After leading the Los Angeles Clippers to severe overachievement without the stars, however, Rivers has become a legitimate candidate for the job.

Despite playing 49 games without Blake Griffin, who was only dealt at the trade deadline after his health continued to decline, Los Angeles went 42-40. That’s even more impressive when one considers that Danilo Gallinari missed 61 games himself.

For what it’s worth, only five players appeared in more than 70 games for the above-.500 Clippers: Lou Williams, DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Johnson, Sam Dekker, and Sindarius Thornwell.

Despite coaching a revolving door of players, Rivers led the Clippers to intriguing success. It may not have validated his allegedly elite status, but it supported the belief that the NBA championship on his resume wasn’t a fluke.

If New York is looking for a coach who will help create a defensive-minded culture, then the former Knicks point guard turned head coach is a viable option.

Jerry Stackhouse

Jerry Stackhouse was a two-time All-Star in the NBA and a borderline automatic scorer. He averaged 29.8 points and 5.1 assists per game during his career-year in 2000-01, and averaged upwards of 20.0 points per game in five different seasons.

For as good as he was as a player, Stackhouse has the potential to be even more successful in the position of an NBA head coach.

Stackhouse has emerged as a rising stars in the coaching community. He took over as the head coach of the Toronto Raptors’ G League affiliate in 2016, and he orchestrated an immediate turnaround from the team’s 23-27 debut season.

Stackhouse led Raptors 905 to a 39-11 record and the D-League championship in 2016-17, and led the team back to the G League Finals in 2017-18.

The 2017 D-League Coach of the Year does an exceptional job of developing relationships with his players. On the court, he runs an efficient offense and had Raptors 905 ranked No. 1 in the G League in defensive rating in both 2016-17 and 2017-18.

If the New York Knicks are looking for a coach who has youth on his side and the ability to establish an elite defense, the 43-year-old Stackhouse could be the answer.

Jeff Van Gundy

Jeff Van Gundy spent upwards of a decade with the New York Knicks. He became an assistant coach for the Knicks in 1989, held the position until 1996, and thrived as the franchise’s head coach between 1996 and 2001.

While Van Gundy hasn’t been an NBA coach since 2007, Ian Begley of ESPN New York reports that the fan favorite would have interest in the Knicks job if approached by management.

Van Gundy was an assistant coach for Knicks teams that made an NBA Finals appearance and a pair of trips to the Eastern Conference Finals. As a head coach, he guided the Knicks along the most improbable NBA Finals journey in Association history.

To date, Van Gundy’s 1998-99 Knicks are the first and only team in league history to reach the NBA Finals as a No. 8 seed.

The key to Van Gundy’s success with the Knicks was a commitment to defense that featured a vital ability to hold his players accountable. He translated that success to his stint with the Houston Rockets and has prospered in his return to coaching with Team USA.

Van Gundy is a fan favorite who has admittedly been out of the NBA for quite some time, but should be viewed as a realistic option for the Knicks to consider.

Frank Vogel

Frank Vogel is a shining example of how important it is for a head coach to fit the identity of a franchise. He was perfect for an Indiana Pacers franchise that preferred to grind its way to victory, but failed to fit the more flashy nature of the Orlando Magic.

If you’re of the belief that Vogel was exposed in Orlando, however, you should first take note of the fact that the New York Knicks fit his identity as a coach.

Vogel is all about defense, which is reason enough for the Knicks to schedule a meeting with the 44-year-old. That much was established when the Pacers ranked No. 1 in the NBA in defensive rating during both the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons.

Indiana ranked No. 3 in defensive rating in 2015-16 and even remained in the top 10 in 2014-15 despite playing 76 of the 82 regular season games without George.

Thus, while the lackluster play in Orlando may be disappointing, it shouldn’t exactly be discouraging. Vogel has a proven track record that includes a pair of trips to the Eastern Conference Finals and 31-30 overall record in the playoffs.

A New Jersey native who has expressed interest in the Knicks job, Vogel should be a top preference of the front office in 2018.

Monty Williams

When the New Orleans Pelicans fired Monty Williams in 2015, it was a difficult decision to justify. New Orleans improved its win percentage in every season between 2011-12 and 2014-15, ultimately reaching the playoffs with a 45-win campaign.

While Williams has been out of coaching since his wife tragically passed in 2016, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN previously reported that he’d like to return to an NBA sideline.

It’s worth noting that Williams led the Pelicans to the playoffs in 2014-15 with a roster that isn’t entirely dissimilar to the Knicks’ current rotation. He built his system around a star power forward who played both ends of the floor, much as he’d do in New York with Kristaps Porzingis.

While Frank Ntilikina and Tim Hardaway Jr. aren’t exactly Jrue Holiday and Eric Gordon, they have high ceilings and the tools to play those roles in Williams’ system.

Furthermore, Williams is one of the most respected minds and people in the NBA. He’d have no trouble commanding the locker room and convincing his players to buy in to his system on both ends of the floor.

Throw in the fact that Williams is respected by members of the organization and played for the Knicks between 1994 and 1996, and he becomes an even more attractive option.

Jay Wright

Jay Wright has firmly established himself as one of the best coaches in all of college basketball. One could make a case that he’s secured the No. 1 spot with two national championships in three years without the presence of elite recruits.

Wright has proven willing and able to run a modern offense, a tenacious defense, and a program that develops players in an almost unrivaled manner.

In recent years, Wright’s Wildcats have essentially become the San Antonio Spurs of Division I. The team plays an unselfish brand of offense and a remarkably consistent game on defense, and has done a tremendous job of developing under-appreciated talent.

That includes small forward Mikal Bridges, who has essentially become the Kawhi Leonard of the 2018 NBA Draft with how far he’s come in his development.

For the Knicks, adding a coach of Wright’s cut and caliber would be a wise decision. He can help the organization groom the franchise cornerstones of the future, create a fearless offense that encourages three-point shooting, and make the identity of the team its defense.

There are other coaches whom the Knicks will consider, but there isn’t a more appealing option on the collegiate scene than Wright.

Must Read: Handing out awards for the 2017-18 season

The question is: Which of these coaches, if any, will the New York Knicks hire to replace Jeff Hornacek?